Region with oil slick needs to be a restricted zone - warn scientists; Owners of ship commit error in judgement

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The Maritime Environmental Protection Authority has stated that it will take steps to obtain compensation for the damage caused to the Sri Lankan coast from the firm that owns the ship that has sunk off the coast of Panadura.

The general director of the authority Rear Admiral S. A. Samaratunga stated that steps have already been taken to file legal action against this firm.

This tanker ship which belongs to Cyprus named Thermopylae Sierra which has been anchored off the coast of Panadura for an extensive time period had sunk yesterday and subsequently began leaking its cargo of oil in to the surrounding ocean.

The Maritime Environmental Protection Authority general director stated that the oil slick has drifted about 16 kilometres along the Panadura - Negombo coast.

However it was reported that this oil had contaminated the waters in the Negambo - Morawela region.

Our news correspondent in the region reported that black oil stains were visible on the beach.

A fisherman in the region expressed his views to our news correspondent in the following manner.

However, according to the Maritime Environmental Protection Authority Director General Rear Admiral S. A. Samaratunga, the oil slick will not affect fishing activities and bathing in the region.

However, in order to obtain more information regarding this oil slick our news team spoke to the section head/senior lecturer of the Oceanography and Marine Geology faculty Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara.

He stated that the public should not be allowed to swim in the areas where the oil slick is spreading and he also expressed his views on the oil slick drifting towards the North West.

Meanwhile speaking at a UNP press conference, UNP MP Lakshman Kiriella expressed the following views with regards to the sunken ship.